Uniting two different worlds

Hardev Kaur, New Strait Times, Kuala Lumpur

Two continents -- Asia and Europe -- account for 40 percent of the world's population, 50 percent of the world's GDP, and 60 percent of world trade. Thus when the 39 members of the ASEM -- from Asia and Europe -- "speak with one voice" they are "extremely powerful".

Therefore, countries in Asia and Europe have been urged to strengthen multilateralism in dealing with challenges posed by weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, environment, energy as well as poverty and infectious diseases.

Foreign Ministers of ASEM meeting in Kyoto last week stressed the need to deal with "global challenges and cross-border issues" through multilateralism.

This also means an understanding of the different cultures, both at the regional and international level, especially in the post Sept. 11, 2003 period.

To foster a better understanding and appreciation of the differences and, indeed, the similarities, Indonesia will host a dialogue on "Deepening of Asia-Europe Dialogue on Global Challenges".

The dialogue, to be held in Bali in July, could not be better timed. Despite the world getting increasingly smaller, thanks to technology and improved communications, there is still a very wide perception and knowledge gap between the various cultures and civilizations.

This gap, and the consequent mistrust, between the different cultures and civilizations must be addressed and bridged in an open and honest manner. The fact that we live in an increasingly globalised world lends urgency to this task.

The financial crisis of 1997-1998 showed how quickly contagion, of whatever hue, can spread from one country to the next. The bird flu and the SARS outbreak spread rapidly across oceans and proved how small the world has become.

Then came the Asian tsunami, which had such an instant and far- reaching impact that it moved people from all over the world to rush in with aid for the victims in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Despite all this, however, there is still a gap in understanding and perceptions between the different cultures.

This is perhaps best illustrated by a Polish journalist, Walensa (not his real name), when he asked "Are you afraid of an emerging China?"

"No," replied a journalist from a Southeast Asian country.

"Why not?" asked Walensa, looking puzzled. "The Americans are (afraid)," he added.

He was also perplexed why Malaysians were not afraid of the many Chinese in their midst. "Will not the Chinese in Malaysia shift their allegiance to the Middle Kingdom once China emerges as a major power and create problems for Malaysian authorities?" he asked. When told "No", he was even more confused as his theory of chaos and unrest caused by the emergence of China had just been thrown out of the window.

The Southeast Asian journalist told Walensa that perhaps the Americans and Europeans do not understand the Chinese and Asians as well as they like to think they do.

The obsession of the West with a rising China is understandable. They see it as a threat to their own supremacy on the world stage.

Obviously, Europeans and Asians look at the same issue through different prisms. These differences are well explained by Mahbubani in his book.

Michael Reiterer, an Austrian diplomat based in Brussels who headed the ASEM desk of the European Commission, asks: "Asia- Europe: Do They Meet?"

Rudyard Kipling had declared that "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet".

When these questions are asked, some notice only the differences while others see opportunities.

The ASEM foreign ministers meeting in Kyoto were upbeat about the future of their two regions. They noted that the close cooperation and rapport enabled them to discuss issues, no matter how contentious, in a frank and friendly atmosphere.

Undoubtedly, the international community faces challenges that need to be tackled through global cooperation.

In doing so, it is equally important to understand each other's culture and approach to issues.

In this context, the ASEM Foreign Ministers confirmed their commitment to multilateralism and to a fair, just and rule-based international order with the United Nations playing the central role to effectively address new global challenges and threats.

Mindful of the rapid changes taking place and the challenges these pose, the ministers are committed to revitalizing the ASEM process and strengthening multilateralism.

They were also mindful of the need for sustainable development in the integration process of the two regions.

Even though Europe has had a head start over Asia in integration, there is still no real, single "European identity".

This prompted Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State, to ask whether anyone could give him the telephone number for Europe. No one could do so some 25 years ago. There still is no telephone number.

Similarly, there is yet to be a single telephone number for Asia. But this lack of a single telephone number each for Europe and Asia does not stop them from working together.